jkund17Explore the great outdoors…GARDENING
Whether you live in an apartment, a small house or are blessed with a large villa with ample outdoor space, a beautiful garden can crop up anywhere. It can be just a row of selected potted plants in the balcony or a flowerbed near the front door. It can be a select bonsai collection or a variety of herbs, shrubs and trees. What is important really is for you to go out and spend some time everyday with the green fellows who help us so much in surviving.
If you are new to the concept of gardening here is why you should do it,
1.Good exercise with the toiling, bending, watering etc. involved. Not vigorous but still a good movement based hobby
2.Plants help us breathe, so the more you are in the vicinity of plants, the better for your health
3.A garden helps cool the area around your home
4.Saves on the heating bill as again the garden keep the home cool
5.Regular gardening helps your mind relax and is a very good anti stress work.
6.You can grow your own food in the kitchen garden. So saves on the vegetable cost and also helps you grow organic stuff on your own.
7.Flower gardens make your home look naturally beautiful.
Now that you know how gardening is good, let us see how you can start off.
1.Keep it simple and small at the beginning. Just select few plants, maybe only flowering ones. Once you know what all you need to do, you can expand your area of the garden.
2.If you wish to grow a specific plant do see the growing conditions it requires. Vegetables will need at least 6 hours of sun exposure a day. The same goes for most flowering plants, however there are still many to choose from for a partially shaded site. If you want to start a garden where there is mostly shade, your choices are going to be more limited, but not prohibitive.
4.Clear the grass and the weeds on the area. And continue doing so after the plants have been planted on a regular basis
5.Take a cue from your neighbors garden as to what plants they are growing as that will help you already know what grows well in your area
6.Have variety of plants but do not clutter with one of everything. Group wise patches will be good.
7.The ideal time to plant is on a still overcast day rather than in the afternoon’s blazing sun.
8.Water your newly planted garden as soon as it is planted and make sure it gets at least one inch of water per week. You may have to water more often in hot dry summers. Let your plants tell you how much water they need. Some wilting in noonday sun is normal. Wilting in the evening is stress.
9.Mulching is a great way to conserve water and preserve the layer of soil as well as fertilize it. Do choose organic mulch like dried leaves, vegetable peels, tree barks etc. for the garden.
10.Keep a record of what you have planted and also see what went wrong if a particular plant is not doing well.
11.Taller plants may need to be staked to keep from flopping
12.Vegetable gardens need to be harvested regularly to keep the produce maximum
13.Remove dead flowers regularly
14. Enjoy your garden time…it will bring out a new dimension to your personality too.
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But many folk do love to garden and I've come to realize, "you are nearer to God in a garden than in anywhere else on earth".